Just when you think things at the State House couldn't get more strange, something happens to make you shake your
head yet again.  Check out this story from the Providence Journal:



The State Police last week investigated a State House confrontation involving a handful of state officials and Henry Fellela, the husband of Johnston state Rep. Deborah Fellela.

Sen. John J. Tassoni and Leo R. Blais were among those who filed reports with the Capitol Police following the incident, which took place shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday night, June 26.

Mr. Fellela confronted the senators and a Senate staffer on a second-floor back staircase.

Mr. Fellela later explained to Political Scene he was upset that legislation sponsored by his wife involving the Johnston Housing Authority had stalled in Tassoni's committee.

"Tassoni killed my wife's bill," Mr. Fellela said. "I said to him, 'Why did you do that?' He got real cocky, like a thug."

Then, Tassoni says, Mr. Fellela flew into a rage.

"I said, 'As far as I'm concerned, the bill is not coming out of committee,'' Tassoni recounted. "At that point he stuck his finger in my face and said I was a [expletive deleted], and he kept saying it."

"He came down the stairway after I passed him, still ranting and raving," Tassoni continued. "He said, 'You guys will pay for this.' ... The more I thought about it the more I realized the guy was unstable so I thought I should report it."

Mr. Fellela later admitted to using profanity: "I probably swore, but I guarantee he probably swore back," he said. "There were no fisticuffs."

The State Police later investigated the incident, visiting the Fellela's Johnston home.

"There was nothing that raised to level of criminal conduct," State Police Maj. Stephen Bannon told Political Scene. "It was basically two people that got into an argument. People get into arguments all the time down there....No one wished to pursue any charges."

Mr. Fellela, 51, of Johnston, said that State Police involvement was unnecessary.

"I got into an argument and they want to blow it up to make Debbie look bad," he said.

Having recently pleaded guilty to fraudulent use of a credit card in New Hampshire, Mr. Fellela is currently serving a suspended sentence and could have gone to prison if convicted of another crime.

Tassoni said he was aware of Mr. Fellela's status and didn't want to send him to prison.

"The bottom line is that I don't think he would like anyone talking to his wife like he approached me. He was just out of control," Tassoni said. "I don't want to be treated that way."

 
     The Fellela family has been in the news for a few reasons that have nothing to do with Deborah Fellela's position as a state legislator.  She has made some unusual remarks, there have been some unfortunate occurences involving her family, and Henry Fellela appears to have have made some poor decisions, along with a problem controllng his temper.  This current outburst with Senator John Tassoni is just the latest incident in a troubling pattern.  In case Mr. Fellela doesn't realize it, there are a stack of bills that haven't been voted out of committee.  Is confronting someone in a profanity-laced tirade going to help your cause?

     As for John Tassoni, he also comes out of this looking foolish.  Henry Fellela was wrong for approaching him in the manner he did, but was it necessary to call the police?  Does Senator Tassoni call the police every time someone argues with him and is rude?   Well, what would you expect from a guy who wanted to establish a state council to hear little league disputes?